Bushing insert for base plate for sewing machine



June 3, 1958 SHEPPARD 2,837,047

BUSHING INSERT FOR BASE PLATE FOR SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '8} I I. INVENTOR. y 11.7 Jul-1N SHEPPARD BY I 2? Fig.5.

June 3, 1958 J. SHEPPARD 2,837,047

BUSHING INSERT FOR BASE PLATE FOR SEWING MACHINE Filed NOV. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SHEPPQRD United States Patent Gfifice 2,837,047 Patented June 3, 1958 BUSHING INSERT FOR BASE PLATE FOR SEWING MACHINE John Sheppard, New York, N. Y.

Application November 9, 1956, Serial No. 621,334

Claims. (Cl. 112-260) This invention relates to sewing machines generally, and more particularly has reference to a bushing insert adapted for engagement in the usual needle-receiving opening of a throat plate of a sewing machine.

The needle opening of a sewing machine throat plate tends to become enlarged, by continuous reciprocation of the needle therein. Said reciprocation tends to wear the wall of the opening away over a period of time. As a result, the opening becomes enlarged to the point that it does not accurately guide the needle therethrough.

In these circumstances, it becomes necessary to discard the entire throat plate, for replacement thereof by a new throat plate. Obviously, this represents a considerable expense, particularly when the sewing machine is in continuous, heavy use, as would be the case, for example, in respect to a commercially used machine.

Inview of the difliculties which have heretofore occurred, the main object of the present invention is to provide highly inexpensive means supportable in the needle opening of a throat plate, which means provides a guide opening for the needle of the machine, and can be removed and replaced whenever it bcomes worn, without requiring the removal of the entire throat plate.

The means devised in carrying out the above stated object is a small bushing, which is so inexpensive as to represent. a wholly inconsequential cost, so far as replacement thereof is concerned.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a bushing insert for the needle opening of a throat plate which can be readily inserted or removed, so as to permit replacement in a minimum time and with relatively little difficulty.

A further object is to provide a bushing insert as described that will be adapted to be used with full efficiency so far as its needle-guiding function is concerned, so that use of the bushing insert will provide for guidance of the needle without loss of the overall efiiciency of the machine.

Still another object is to so design the bushing insert as to permit the same to be manufactured as one of a set of inserts, the several inserts of the set being formed withneedle openings of different sizes.

By reason of this arrangement, one can select the particular bushing insert for use in a particular sewing operation involving a needle of selected size. In this way, needles of different sizes can be interchanged according to the operations to be performed, and bushing inserts fitting the selected needles can be kept at hand, foruse of any desired bushing at any particular time.

Still another object is to provide a bushing insert of the'character described which, in one form of the invention, has associated therewith means facilitating the engagement of the bushing insert in the throat plate needle opening, and facilitating, further, the swift removal of the bushing insert without requiring detachment of the throat plate from the structural part of the sewing machine on which it is usually mounted.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are top plan views of different types of throat plates equipped with bushing inserts according to the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view transversely through the throat plate of Fig. 1, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detail sectional view on the same cutting plane as Fig. 5, showing the details of the bushing insert.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a throat plate equipped with a modified form of bushing insert.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view, still further enlarged, through the intermediateportion of the bushing insert means, taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 9, on line 10-10 of Fig. 8, showing the means for connecting the bushing insert to the throat plate.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the bushing insert per se.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the throat plate of Fig. 7 with the bushing insert removed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Figs. 1-4, inclusive, there are shown throat plates 10, 10**, 10 and 10, respectively. These include pairs of countersunk openings 12, 12 12 and 12, adapted to receive the usual connecting screws, not shown, whereby the throat plates are mounted in the sewing machine.

Further, in accordance with conventional construction, throat plate 10 has an elongated slot 14 and longitudinally aligned, shorter slots 16 extending parallel to the slot 14; throat plate 10 has an elongated, wide slot 14 and a slot 16 approximately half the length of slot 14*; the throat plate 10 has two parallel slots 14 between which are longitudinally aligned slots 16*; and throat plate 10 has a slot 14 substantially longer than the slot 14 of throat plate 10*, together with a slot 16 approximately half the length of slot 14.

Formed in the several throat plates are needle-receiving openings 18, 18 18*, 18, respectively.

All this is conventional construction, and ordinarily a needle N, shown in Fig. 5, is reciprocated vertically within the needle opening of the throat plate. However, the constant use of the machine tends to cause the wall of the needle opening to wear away, so that the needle is not guided in a perfectly true path.

In accordance with the present invention, engageable in the needle opening of each of the illustrated throat plates is a bushing insert 20. If necessary, the opening 18 of the throat plate 10, and the corresponding openings of the other throat plates, can be enlarged for the purpose of receiving the bushing.

The bushing is shown to particular advantage in Fig. 6, and includes a cylindrical body the length of whichis approximately equal to the thickness of the throat plate. At the lower end of the body, there is formed a flanged extension 22, hearing against the underside of the throat plate. The upper end of the body, however, terminates in the plane of the top surface of the throat plate, since no projection above said top surface of the throat plate is desirable in a sewing machine, owing to the fact that fabric may'catch upon a projection and be torn or, alter- 9 natively, be prevented from moving smoothly through the machine.

The bushing insert has an axial bore 24, the upper end of which is flared as at 26 to facilitate guiding of the needle into the bore of the bushing insert. In this connection, the bushing insert is frictionally and tightly, but removably, engaged in the opening 18.

It will be seen that whenever it is desired to remove a worn bushing insert, one merely detaches the throat plate from the machine, inverts the throat plate and pries the bushing insert out of the opening 18, by engaging a bladed instrument under the flange 22. Alternatively, the bushing insert may be punched out of the opening 18. Then, a new bushing insert is engaged in the opening, and the throat late is returned to position upon the machine.

The construction not only permits the throat plate to be permanently retained rather than discarded by reason of wearing of its needle opening, but also permits one to maintain a complete set of inserts, having bores 24 of different diameters. A selected insert can be used for guiding a needle of corresponding diameter and it will thus be seen that one can make a proper selection of a guide opening, at any time, without requirement of maintaining 21 large number of throat plates having needle openings of different sizes.

In Figs. 7-12 there is shown a modified construction, having the advantage that the bushing insert can be removed without removal of the throat plate itself. In this form of the invention, the throat plate has been designated at 10 and as in the case of the throat plates of Figs. 1-4, has spaced openings 12 for receiving mounting screws. Further, the throat plate has a slot 14 together with adjaccnt, longitudinally aligned, shorter slots 16 The slot arrangement can be changed, of course, and any of the slot arrangements shown in Figs. 14, or other slot arrangements conventionally provided upon various throat plates, can be utilized, as desired.

In this form of the invention, the opening for receiving the bushing insert has been designated at 18 and may be somewhat larger than the openings of the first form of the invention. Opening 18 extends through the full thickness of the throat plate as shown to best advantage in Fig. 8, and communicating with the opening 18 is an elongated groove 28. Groove 28 extends transversely of the throat plate, being cut in the top surface thereof. At the end of the groove remote from the open ing 18 said groove opens into a shallow, circular depression 30 which is disposed near the arcuate edge of the throat plate. Centrally formed in the bottom wall of the depression or recess 30 is an aperture 32, which is threaded.

The bushing insert in this form of the invention has been shown in Fig. ll, and comprises an elongated element 34, integral at one end with a circular head 36. Head 36 as shown in Figs. 8 and 11 is of a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the arm 34. Thus, the head extends through the full depth of the opening 18 as shown in Fig. 8.

Centrally formed in head 36 is an opening in which is removably engageable a bushing insert 20, identical to the inserts shown in Figs. l6.

The insert 20, in this regard, is adapted to be removed in the same manner as the insert 20 shown in Fig. 6 is removable from the opening 18. In other words, insert 20 is frictionally engageable in the center opening of the head 36. It can be pried out or punched out, whenever desired, for replacement by a new insert or another insert having a difierent size guide opening for the needle N.

, At the end of the arm 34 remote from head 36, said arm is integral with a flat disc 37, said disc 37having a countersunk center opening 38 adapted to receive the head of a connecting screw 40, the shank of which is threadedly engageable in the threaded aperture 32 of the throat plate 10 as shown in Fig. 10. The disc 37 fits snugly in the 4. circular recess 30 of the throat plate, and it will be noted from Fig. 8 that the top surface of disc 37, arm 34, and head 36 are all flush with the top surface of the throat plate 10 so that no projection above the plane of the throat plate will result.

It will be seen that in the form shown in Figs. 7-12 the throat plate may be left in place permanently, and one need merely remove the single screw 40, for the purpose of in turn removing the bushing insert support means and bushing insert. By removal of the screw 40, the disc 37, arm 34 and head 36 may be lifted out, and the bushing insert 20 removed. Then, a new bushing insert is substituted, and the support means is returned to place, with screw 40 being threaded into the opening 32 once again.

The construction illustrated permits any of various inserts to be engaged in the head 36, and a highly desirable characteristic of the modified form is found in the fact that the throat plate need not be removed. Often, the throat plate of a sewing machine is engaged on the associated structural component of the machine by a plurality of screws, and there might, for example, be more than two screws for connecting the throat plates illustrated to the associated structural parts of the sewing machine.

It will be understood, in this regard, that instead the screw 40, other fastening means can be employed to hold the bushing insert in place. In fact, it is entirely possible that no positive connection be employed for engaging the bushing insert support means comprising disc 37, arm 34, and head 36 in the associated recess, groove, and opening of the throat plate. Instead, the device may be simply laid in place, and its weight, and its frictional engagement with the throat plate, will hold the same in place during the regular use of the sewing machine. In this way, the bushing insert may be readily lifted out without requiring the use of any screws whatsoever. The screw 40, in other words, is illustrated merely to show that the device can, if desired, be fixedly secured to the throat plate should this be found desirable.

It is to be understood that the bushing insert may be made of any suitable material such as steel, other metal or plastic substance.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. The combination, with a sewing machine throat plate having an opening, of a bushing insert adapted. for disposition centrally in said opening and having an. axial bore for guarding a sewing machine needle therethrough, and means for supporting the insert upon the throat plate, said means resting upon the throat plate and extending outwardly from said opening, said means comprising an elongated arm disposed radially of the opening of the throat plate, and a head rigid with, one end of the arm and seating in the throat plate opening, said head having a centrally disposed aperture forreceiving the bushing insert, the throat plate being formed with a groove in which said arm is disposed.

2. The combination, with a sewing machine throat plate having an opening, of a bushing, insert adaptedfor disposition centrally in said opening and havingan axial bore for guarding a sewing machine needle therethrough, and means for supporting the insert upon the throat plate, said means resting upon the throat plate and extending outwardly from said opening, said means, comprising an elongated arm disposed radially of the opening of the throat plate, and a head rigid with one end of the 'arrn and seating in the throat plate opening, said head having a centrally disposed aperture for receiving the bushing insert, the throat plate being formed with a groove in which said arm is disposed, said means further including a disc rigid with the other end ofthe arm, the throat plate having a recess communicating with the groove and said disc seating in the recess.

3. The combination, with a sewing machine throat plate having an opening, of a bushing insert adapted for disposition centrally in said opening and having an axial bore for guarding a sewing machine needle therethrough, and means for supporting the insert upon the throat plate, said means resting upon the throat plate and extending outwardly from said opening, said means comprising an elongated arm disposed radially of the opening of the throat plate, and a head rigid with one end of the arm and seating in the throat plate opening, said head having a centrally disposed aperture for receiving the bushing insert, the throat plate being formed with a groove in which said arm is disposed, said means further including a disc rigid with the other end of the arm, the throat plate having a recess communicating with the groove and said disc seating in the recess, the disc and the aim being equal in thickness, the head being substantially thicker than the disc and arm and extending through the full thickness of the throat plate.

4. The combination, with a sewing machine throat plate having an opening, of a bushing insert adapted for disposition centrally in said opening and having an axial bore for guarding a sewing machine needle therethrough, and means for supporting the insert upon'the throat plate, said means resting upon the throat plate and extending outwardly from said opening, said means comprising an elongated arm disposed radially of the opening of the throat plate, and .a head rigid with one end of the arm and seating in the throat plate opening, said head having a centrally disposed aperture for receiving the bushing insert, the throat plate being formed with a groove in which said arm is disposed, said means further including a disc rigid with the other end of the arm, the throat plate having a recess communicating with the groove and said disc seating in the recess, the disc and the arm being equal in thickness, the head being substantially thicker than the disc and arm and extending through the full thickness of the throat plate, the disc being formed with a center opening, said insert-supporting means further including a screw the head of which engages in the center opening of the disc, the throat plate having a threaded aperture registered with the center opening of the disc in communication with said recess for threadedly engaging the screw.

5. The combination, with a sewing machine throat plate having an opening, of a bushing insert adapted for disposition centrally in said opening and having an axial bore for guarding a sewing machine needle therethrough, and means for supporting the insert upon the throat plate, said means resting upon the throat plate and extending outwardly from said opening, said means comprising an elongated arm disposed radially of the opening of the throat plate, and a head rigid with one end of the arm and seating in the throat plate opening, said head having a centrally disposed aperture for receiving the bushing insert, the throat plate being formed with a groove in which said arm is disposed, said means further including a disc rigid with the other end of the arm, the throat plate having a recess communicating with the groove and said disc seating in the recess, the disc and the arm being equal in thickness, the head being substantially thicker than the disc and arm and extending through the full thickness of the throat plate, the disc being formed with a center opening, said insert-supporting means further including a screw the head of which engages in the center opening of the disc, the throat plate having a threaded aperture registered with the center opening of the disc in communication with said recess for threadedly engaging the screw, said disc, arm, and head having top surfaces disposed in a common plane, the opening, recess, and groove being so proportioned as to locate the common plane of the disc arm, and head flush with one face of the throat plate.

Hanna Dec. 15, 1896 Rosenthal Aug. 16, 1921 

